His Holiness The Dalai Lama announced his retirement as the political head of the Tibetans in march this year passing on his powers to an elected representative. The Tibetans accepted his will with a heavy heart. Now it’s the Kalon Tripa or Prime Minister who will represent them at international forums. There was however considerable hue and cry raised by the Chinese govt over this move by The Dalai Lama. 
Just when the dust seem to be settled, a controversy over who will be the 15th Dalai Lama has erupted. This time the whole Dalai Lama institution is under the dragon’s threat. An aging Dalai Lama has always maintained that he will divulge his reincarnation details when the ‘time ‘ comes. Now he has announced that he will do so once he turns 90. Dalai Lama is 76 now and there are good 14 years left before he does so. It is noteworthy that the Dalai Lama had explained his decision based on a Buddhist teaching according to which each person has a right to decide on where and when they should reincarnate. Based on that, Dalai Lama said that if he decided to reincarnate, he would leave very strict guidelines on the where and when, so that the ones empowered to search for him would recognize him.
If he decides not to reincarnate, Dalai Lama added, then he will leave instructions about the way to recognize the new Dalai Lama, which, in his opinion, may be elected like the pope in Rome or like the politicians. The Tibetan spiritual leader has said that the instructions will be handed down as long as he still is in his mental and physical capacities, after he decides whether it is necessary to do it.
But the mere announcement about his reincarnation has raised a several eyebrows in Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Office spared no time in to declare that no one else but the government has right to appoint the next Dalai Lama! Also came a warning. Dalai Lama has not right to decide whether he wants to reincarnate or not. The Dalai Lama contradicted this saying only two of his predecessors were selected by drawing lots from the ‘Golden Urn.’
It is important to discuss what happened to the 5th Panchen Lama. The 2nd highest priest of the Tibet appointed by the Dalai Lama went missing soon after the announcement and was replaced by the Chinese govt appointed successor. No one has heard about the Panchen Lama appointed by Dalai Lama since this incident which took place in 1995. The Dalai Lama has learnt his lessons pretty well and he will surely not allow this to happen to his own successor.
Dalai Lama is a strong advocate of democracy and democratic norms. Dharamshala, the capital of Tibetans in-exile has a government directly elected by the exiled Tibetans living world over through universal franchise. There is an autonomous election commission which conducts the whole exercise in accordance with the guidelines set by the parliament of the Tibetans. All this has been done under Dalai Lama’s guidance.
So, it would not be a surprise that he goes for an overhaul of the Dalai Lama institution and we might see the 15th Dalai Lama elected directly by the priests of the ‘Gelug’ or the Yellow Hat branch of Buddhism just like the Pope. But will China wait that long remains to be seen. The frequent protests in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and the self immolations by monks at Kirti monastery continue to worry Beijing.
